Chapter Seventeen: The Directive Questioned

Not only Shen Shanli, but even Jing Zhiming felt that the situation had completely exceeded their expectations.

Xu Yan and Duan Peng had not undergone comprehensive training for commanding interstellar warfare, so mistakes were inevitable when making decisions.

However, Jing Zhiming was both anxious and sighing. He especially hoped for some direct combat scenes. Though brutal, such battles would at least not place Xu Yan and Duan Peng at a significant disadvantage.

But now, it seemed that the two had no chance to reach that stage. They would likely be stripped of command, or worse, their ships destroyed along with their lives.

Meanwhile, on the monitors, Xu Yan was already discussing with Duan Peng how to respond next.

Because the projections on the drill glass were invisible on the monitors—only Xu Yan himself could see them—no one in the observation room knew what Xu Yan was basing his decisions on.

Moreover, their conversation wasn’t fully audible; they operated through a tablet, speaking only key words aloud for clarification.

Their interstellar battle suits also blocked the surveillance cameras from seeing their tablets, leaving their plans a mystery.

Ten minutes later, the two parted ways, apparently having reached an agreement.

Then they waited for the follow-up shuttle squadrons, who reported in one by one over the communicators.

Half an hour later, the last shuttle joined Squadron 16. Two columns of 24 shuttles each — the team was finally assembled.

“Unit 3, based on the speed of the enemy craft, they are less than ten minutes away. When the enemy reaches parallel dimension, your unit will split into two parts, attacking from the top and rear respectively. Your objective is to locate the core chamber and draw their attention. Safety is paramount; avoid prolonged engagement,” Xu Yan issued the first command.

Before he could give orders to his own unit, a reply came from Unit 3 via communicator: “Squadron 16, the enemy craft’s speed surpasses ours. Attacking like this will only allow them to accelerate away, rendering the blockade ineffective. Request modification of orders.”

Unit 3’s response immediately resonated in the observation room.

To them, Squadron 16’s command was clearly flawed. Their speed was obviously inferior to the enemy’s, and attempting to block from behind and above was futile. Finding the core chamber was unrealistic; before the first volley of attack was complete, the enemy would have already sped away.

Shen Shanli’s face darkened; the situation mirrored his predictions exactly, and the prior conversation between Xu Yan and Duan Peng had fully manifested.

The recruits of the Interstellar Battle Training Center clearly rejected Xu Yan’s orders, which were fundamentally flawed.

Mu Chengzhu’s expression was also grim. He hadn’t expected the first command from Squadron 16 to be such an obvious error.

This simulated battle was designed to be a sacrifice, expecting all 48 shuttle crew to perish, as this was never an equal fight.

Firstly, the test was to see if the shuttle commanders could respond most effectively.

Secondly, to observe the fighting spirit displayed by all crew in crisis.

Thirdly, to test the loyalty and readiness to face death.

Under Xu Yan’s command, the second criterion would never be reached. The interception mission failed completely due to poor response.

If this were a real alien invasion, the enemy craft would likely shake off these shuttles and accelerate away, avoiding entanglement.

Mu Chengzhu remained silent, and Shen Shanli dared not alter orders arbitrarily. The drill commanding officer glanced back, awaiting Shen Shanli’s instructions.

At that moment, another command from Xu Yan on Squadron 16 came through: “Unit 3, time is short. I cannot explain in detail. Execute the orders. While you launch your attack, our unit will approach the front underside of the enemy craft and commence full firepower assault.”

“Squadron 16, you’re courting death. If the enemy speeds up, all shuttles will be destroyed with no survivors. Wanting to be heroes doesn’t mean reckless charge. Our mission is to prevent enemy penetration, not to be cannon fodder,” Unit 3 responded.

Yet on Squadron 16, Xu Yan insisted: “Unit 3, I hold supreme command. Carry out the orders. Otherwise, military law awaits you.”

Xu Yan’s persistence finally silenced Unit 3’s objections, who began issuing orders to their crews.

On Squadron 16, Xu Yan gave the attack command: advance in an arrowhead formation at full speed, following directly behind his shuttle regardless of cost.

Because of the earlier communication with Unit 3, all the fleet’s shuttles had heard the orders.

They realized that Squadron 16 was determined to go all in, seemingly ready for mutual destruction: 24 shuttles charging the enemy craft like stones against an iron wall, hoping to deal a heavy blow that would force the enemy to retreat.

Though costly, this approach could indeed hinder the enemy.

But was such sacrifice truly necessary?

Fortunately, this was only a simulation. In an actual battlefield, many would likely break ranks—reckless suicide is foolish, and only indicates an incompetent commander.

Still, the effect achieved the test’s purpose: enemy effectively blocked.

The observation room was silent. Although Squadron 16’s orders lacked brilliance, the results spoke for themselves: despite being outmatched, they achieved their goal while minimizing losses.

The support shuttles had likely been preserved.

Shen Shanli had to admit to the senior officer Mu Chengzhu, “Though the assessment goal wasn’t fully met, the mission’s outcome should be considered successful.”

Mu Chengzhu replied with a meaningful tone, “You all underestimate Squadron 16’s command. Watch closely.”

His words sparked renewed interest.

Ten minutes wasn’t long. Just as everyone thought the 24 shuttles had formed an arrowhead in front of the enemy craft and were about to dash at full speed,

Squadron 16 issued a strange new order to the 23 shuttles behind: shut down all power, including surveillance equipment, maintain radio silence, and after five minutes, initiate full-speed charge with all weapons firing forward.

Everyone saw that Squadron 16 truly intended to combine overwhelming firepower with the arrowhead formation to deliver a fatal blow, forcing the enemy’s retreat.

The force of firepower plus the collision of both sides moving at full speed seemed inevitable.

To simulate a real battlefield, all equipment and external conditions were realistically represented.

Once the 24 shuttles cut their power, even the observation room’s monitoring screens lost their images of them—only the shuttles remained still on the landing platform outside.

“What now?” The simulation assessment commander, facing this unprecedented situation, turned again to Shen Shanli.

Shen Shanli looked to Mu Chengzhu. “Sir, should we end the test or wait until total destruction?”

Mu Chengzhu responded, “No. Initiate the outer space simulated battlefield!”